literature

RGHee014 Rapunzel Meets Her Parents

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Rapunzel Goes Home (extended edition)
~ Chapter 014
~ Rapunzel Meets Her Parents


After what felt like several sunlit days the newly rejoined royal family and Eugene stood up. They stayed very close to one another. Rapunzel and her mother holding hands and the king had his arm around the waist of the queen and Eugene had an arm around the shoulders of Rapunzel, his other hand still in the queen's.

The King held Rapunzel at arms length next to the Queen, "She looks so much like you; the Test must have been pointless."

"Please, let's go inside and sit, so we can hear your story," invites the king as he takes his daughter's hand and moves to the doors, which are opened by a pair of those guards with the crossed sashes.

That hug was one of the most precious memories that Eugene now had. It was the second best hug ever.

For several beautiful minutes he actually felt like he was part of a family, with real parents and everything. Something he hadn't felt in a long, long time. Rapunzel was far more important to him then anything, even life itself, he thought to himself, feeling the dried blood on his side.

Eugene's hand is still in the queens and he gives it a squeeze as the king and Rapunzel move toward the door and out of hearing. She turns toward him; a question on her smiling face. For a few minutes, Eugene had felt like he was really part of a family again, but he had to do this.

"Your Majesty," He begins, but pauses, concern written on his face in big, bold letters and then blurts, "Okay, there is absolutely no good or easy way to say this and there isn't time for anything else."
"Please, don't tell her you love her." Eugene says with a wince.

The queen's jaw drops open and her large green eyes get huge.

"I know that you really want to tell her that right now, but her captor told her she loved her. It was a way to keep her in the tower. To say it now would only be to hurt her and you. I found that out the hard way and I don't want either of you hurting each other."

Sadness filled the queen's eyes.

"I'm sorry, it may take a little while to overcome this. Please, tell the king or stop him somehow. Find a different word or phrase and use that for now. I know it's hard. You have absolutely no reason to trust me, but I love her too. I don't want you to see that pain in her eyes. Please," he said desperately, hoping she would believe him.

She nodded.

They quickly follow the king and Rapunzel.

* * *

This had been killing Eugene on the walk to the palace. When she had still been Blondie, setting up some modest place and becoming a horse trader or something honest was the biggest dream he could handle for giving her a good life.

After she had healed him with her hair, it was obvious she was a witch, a sorceress or something powerful. She might be calling all the shots and providing for them, but he still wanted to do something for her and their children.

But she wasn't a witch. She was a princess, and not just any princess, but The Lost Princess.

Flynn Rider exulted; she was the ultimate Get Out Of Jail Free Card, bringing her home would mean a total pardon and a clean slate, maybe even a really big pile of money.

Eugene Fitzherbert despaired; he couldn't use her again. In the past two days she'd saved his life four times, five now that she passed the Test. She had offered up her life; multiple lifetimes, he now knew, to save him. She had promised. The pain of that promise had overshadowed the knife in his belly. At least he had been able to prevent her from being taken, and she had still saved him again.

Flynn Rider might be a lovable rogue and best thief in the kingdom, but that still meant he moved around a lot. That was no life for a married couple, even Flynn wanted to marry Goldie.

Eugene Fitzherbert knew that he'd never be in any way equal to The Lost Princess. He wanted to be the best husband he could be for the princess and that meant being the best he knew and that meant owning up to everything he had done and face the consequences.

"They'll kill us," said Flynn Rider to Eugene Fitzherbert.
"I know," said Eugene Fitzherbert to Flynn Rider.
"Do you actually think that would be worth it?"
"It's for Rapunzel, there is no other answer, but yes."
"It's not just your life."
"I've been dead before."

Eugene took a deep breath and said, "Sir, ma'am. I know you want to spend all kinds of time with your daughter, but I need to tell you some things right now, because they are important. I am Flynn Rider."

"Eugene," Rapunzel said admonishingly. The king and queen looked confused. Eugene looked down at her and Flynn Rider retreated under that loving gaze. Turning back to the king and queen, he started again, after clearing his throat.

"I was Flynn Rider, Flynn Rider died in a tower hidden deep in the forest trying to save your daughter."
He gestured to the blood crusted hole in his vest and shirt, "Who saved him instead. I am Eugene Fitzherbert."
Eugene had a much different take on what was happening then what you might think. Rapunzel was weird but harmless, at least until she showed off her magic powers. Suddenly he’s dealing with someone far more powerful then he expected. It’s a world with magic in it. Not a lot of magic but powerful, dangerous stuff. A witch, an enchantress, maybe even a fairy, and he still fell in love with her.

Then he finds out just who she really is and it’s completely different from what he thought she was.

But he wants/needs to take responsibility and become the man he really is and needs to be for her. Eugene’s been asleep for a long time, but now it is time to shine. But the thief isn’t going away so easily.

Eugene knows that the concept of love is messed up inside Rapunzel, the most insidious part of what Gothel did to her. It will be tough on the family until they overcome it.

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MrsRider's avatar
Yeah, a tough inne dilema awaits.
But he's a really good man and he'll manage to do it, to completely turn into Eugene Fitzherbert again, though it will be hard.